Information exchange between a handheld device and another computer system using an exchange manager and uniform resource locator (URL) strings

Abstract

A method and electronic system for exchanging data between a handheld device and another computer system using universal resource locator (URL) strings. With respect to sending information from the handheld, an application may define a URL string that may indicate 1) a transport mechanism and 2) a destination for the information. Exemplary transport mechanism strings include: IRODEX:// (infrared); BTOBEX:// (radio frequency Bluetooth); SMS://; SMTP:// (email); SYNC:// (synchronization); HTTP:// (Internet); FTP:// (file transport protocol); etc. Information and the associated URL string is forwarded from the application to an exchange manager API. The exchange manager API is connected to a plurality of exchange library APIs, one for each supported transport mechanism. If no transport mechanism is defined, the user is asked to define one. If no destination is specified, the user is asked to define one. The exchange manager then provides the required communication using the specified URL string. On receiving information, the URL can define its source. If none is given, the exchange manager requests from the user a specific application and verifies the addition of the information to the database associated with the application. When URL strings are fully defined, the communication of information can be somewhat transparent to the user. The handheld device can be a palmtop computer system.

1. A method of using a processor of an electronic device to receive data having Uniform Resource Locator formats, the processor executing the steps of:
 receiving, at an electronic device, data having a Uniform Resource Locator designation and a data type; 
 forwarding the data and the Uniform Resource Locator designation to an exchange manager on the electronic device, the exchange manager dispatching the data to a specified application located on the electronic device, the specified application designated in accordance with the Uniform Resource Locator designation, wherein if the Uniform Resource Locator designation does not contain an application specified, displaying a message on a screen of the electronic device, and receiving a specified application through user input; 
 accepting the specified application designation; 
 storing accepted data as a record of the specified application; 
 designating the application specified by the exchange manager referencing a database on the electronic device in accordance with the Uniform Resource Locator designation and the data type, the database containing a plurality of applications associated with a plurality of data types; and 
 associating the received data with one or more of the plurality of applications; 
 wherein if the processor is currently executing an application on the electronic device, storing the received data associated with the specified application, but not as a record of the specified application until acceptance of the specified application designation is obtained from user input. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein associating the received data step further comprises the step of: obtaining user input to associate the received data with one or more of the plurality of applications. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein obtaining user input includes displaying a selection list of one or more of the plurality of applications on the screen of the electronic device. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  wherein the exchange manager designates one of the plurality of applications displayed in the selection list. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of applications is associated with the plurality of data types on a one-to-one basis. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of verifying the acceptance of the specified application designation. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of specifying a category for the data received. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: the processor interrupting the currently executing application on the electronic device; and displaying a message on the screen of the electronic device indicating data has been received. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the data received is previewed using at least one of the specified application and a non-specified application. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the processor is currently executing an application on the electronic device, the receiving, forwarding, accepting, and storing steps are accomplished without notifying the user. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the electronic device is a handheld computer system. 
     
     
       12. An electronic device for receiving data having Uniform Resource Locator formats comprising:
 a processor coupled to a bus; 
 a memory coupled to the bus; 
 a screen coupled to the bus; and 
 an application resident on the memory, the application containing instructions to be executed on the processor upon receiving data having a Uniform Resource Locator designation and a data type, the instructions comprising the steps of:
 forwarding the data and the Uniform Resource Locator designation to an exchange manager on the electronic device, the exchange manager dispatching the data to a specified application located on the electronic device, the specified application designated in accordance with the Uniform Resource Locator designation, wherein if the Uniform Resource Locator designation does not contain an application specified, displaying a message on the screen of the electronic device, and receiving a specified application through user input; 
 accepting the specified application designation; 
 storing accepted data as a record of the specified application; 
 designating the application specified by the exchange manager referencing a database on the electronic device in accordance with the Uniform Resource Locator designation and the data type, the database containing a plurality of applications associated with a plurality of data types; and 
 associating the received data with one or more of the plurality of applications; 
 wherein if the processor is currently executing an application on the electronic device, storing the received data associated with the specified application, but not as a record of the specified application until acceptance of the specified application designation is obtained from user input. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12  wherein associating the received data step further comprises the step of: obtaining user input to associate the received data with one or more of the plurality of applications. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13  wherein obtaining user input includes displaying a selection list of one or more of the plurality of applications on the screen of the electronic device. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14  wherein the exchange manager designates one of the plurality of applications displayed in the selection list. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of applications is associated with the plurality of data types on a one-to-one basis. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of verifying the acceptance of the specified application designation. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of specifying a category for the data received. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of: the processor interrupting the currently executing application on the electronic device; and displaying a message on the screen of the electronic device indicating data has been received. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 19 , wherein the data received is previewed using at least one of the specified application and a non-specified application. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 12 , wherein if the processor is currently executing an application on the electronic device, the receiving, forwarding, accepting, and storing steps are accomplished without notifying the user.